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    Appendix Sofc Primer

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    Trish Polinag
    A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) generates electricity through an electrochemical reaction when oxidizing a fuel like natural gas or synthetic gas from coal. It consists of an anode, cathode, and electrolyte separating the two where oxygen ions flow to the anode. Multiple individual fuel cells are connected in stacks to increase voltage output. SOFCs are efficient, produce low emissions, and can become a significant source of electricity when commercialized at scale. However, challenges include high temperature corrosion and long start-up times.

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    Appendix Sofc Primer

    Uploaded by

    Trish Polinag
    14 views3 pages
    A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) generates electricity through an electrochemical reaction when oxidizing a fuel like natural gas or synthetic gas from coal. It consists of an anode, cathode, and electrolyte separating the two where oxygen ions flow to the anode. Multiple individual fuel cells are connected in stacks to increase voltage output. SOFCs are efficient, produce low emissions, and can become a significant source of electricity when commercialized at scale. However, challenges include high temperature corrosion and long start-up times.

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    A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) generates electricity through an electrochemical reaction when oxidizing a fuel like natural gas or synthetic gas from coal. It consists of an anode, cathode, and electrolyte separating the two where oxygen ions flow to the anode. Multiple individual fuel cells are connected in stacks to increase voltage output. SOFCs are efficient, produce low emissions, and can become a significant source of electricity when commercialized at scale. However, challenges include high temperature corrosion and long start-up times.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    14 views3 pages

    Appendix Sofc Primer

    Uploaded by

    Trish Polinag
    A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) generates electricity through an electrochemical reaction when oxidizing a fuel like natural gas or synthetic gas from coal. It consists of an anode, cathode, and electrolyte separating the two where oxygen ions flow to the anode. Multiple individual fuel cells are connected in stacks to increase voltage output. SOFCs are efficient, produce low emissions, and can become a significant source of electricity when commercialized at scale. However, challenges include high temperature corrosion and long start-up times.

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    Appendix A: Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Primer

    This section is not a comprehensive discussion of all potential components and applications of SOFCs;
    rather, it is intended to provide a conceptual overview of the basic components and functions of a SOFC
    supporting a vocabulary within which policymakers can debate and formulate policy decisions. A SOFC
    is an electrochemical device that generates electricity by oxidizing fuel such as natural gas or synthetic
    gas produced from coal. When commercialization of SOFCs is achieved, they can become a desirable
    and significant source of electricity in the United States and the world because they are efficient,
    reliable, adaptable, and produce low levels of emissions. When the fuel is hydrogen the only
    byproducts are water and heat, which can be used to support heat and power systems.

    In a SOFC, electricity is generated through an electrochemical reaction and not through a combustion
    process. The operating principles of fuel cells are similar to those of batteries, given they produce
    electricity without combustion or emissions. Unlike batteries, SOFCs do not run down or need to
    recharge; they only require a constant source of fuel and oxygen.

    A single fuel cell consists of three basic components1: (1) an anode, (2) a cathode, and (3) an electrolyte
    that separates them (see Figure 1). Bipolar plates on either side of the cell distribute gases and serve as
    current conductors. The Anode is the negative electrode that releases electrons to the external circuit
    and oxidizes fuel during the electrochemical reaction. The Cathode is the positive electrode that acquires
    electrons from the external circuit and is reduced during the electrochemical reaction. The Electrolyte is
    the medium that provides the ion transport mechanism between the cathode and anode of the cell.

    Figure 1 Three ceramic layers of an SOFC

    In general, a fuel source is fed into the anode of the fuel cell and oxygen, from the air, enters the cell
    through the cathode. By reacting fuel on the anode side of the electrolyte, the concentration of oxygen

    1
    https://depts.washington.edu/matseed/batteries/MSE/components.html
    is dramatically reduced. The electrode on this surface will allow oxygen ions to leave the electrolyte and
    react with the fuel which is oxidized, thereby releasing electrons. Exposing the cathode side of the
    electrolyte plate to air creates an oxygen concentration gradient across the electrolyte, which attracts
    oxygen ions from the cathode to the anode. If there is an electrical connection between the cathode and
    the anode, this allows electrons to flow from the anode to the cathode, where a continuous supply of
    oxygen ions for the electrolyte is maintained, and oxygen ions from cathode to anode, maintaining
    overall electrical charge balance, and thereby generating useful electrical power from the reaction of the
    fuel.2

    Figure 2 A Solid Oxide Fuel Cell

    The power of a single cell produces a small amount of voltage. In order to increase the voltage, a group
    of individual fuel cells may be networked via various geometric configurations (such as tubular or planar
    designs) to form a stack of fuel cells, or “stack.” Even though an individual fuel cell is technically just one
    component of a stack of fuel cells, it is not uncommon for “stack” and “cell” to be used interchangeably
    in conversation or even in technical literature.

    Figure 3 Stacked Fuel Cells

    2
    Stambouli and Traversa, 2002.
    Advantages and Challenges3
    Advantages Challenges
     High efficiency  High temperature corrosion and breakdown
     Fuel flexibility of cell components
     Solid electrolyte  Long start-up time
     Suitable for Combined Heat and Power  Limited number of shutdowns
     Hybrid/gas turbine cycle

    3
    https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2015/11/f27/fcto_fuel_cells_fact_sheet.pdf

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